Generators and surge protectors
Howdy all, Another newbie question. How essential is having a generator and what kind would I want to look for? Along the same lines what about surge protectors? Thanks.
Forum Discussion
Most of my 6 years of TT ownership has been without a generator with no problems. Mostly we either stayed where there were hookups or when we did boondock, we were only there for a weekend, and the single 12 volt battery on our rig was up to the task and didn't need recharging.
I'd been eyeing small (2,000 watt or so) generators primarily so I could take my studio lights on location, and when I stumbled across an 1800 watt inverter generator on clearance for $199, I got one. So far, we've used it on just one trip in the camper. In 2011 we took it along when we went to the Grand Canyon, and it was used twice to recharge the battery because there were no hookups in the North Rim and Zion campgrounds we stayed at. Otherwise, we haven't used it while camping.
So the big question you have to ask is whether you plan to boondock enough for long enough periods that you'll need it. If you can spend a day at a hookup site every 3rd or 4th day, you can save the cost of ever needing a generator.
A surge protector, now, is likely going to be most useful when you are at a site with hinky power. I don't happen to own one, but others swear by them. I DO carry along a voltmeter, and before hooking up, I check the power both to make sure it is wired correctly and that it isn't making wild voltage swings. So far I've never had a problem that way, but others swear by them.
I'd been eyeing small (2,000 watt or so) generators primarily so I could take my studio lights on location, and when I stumbled across an 1800 watt inverter generator on clearance for $199, I got one. So far, we've used it on just one trip in the camper. In 2011 we took it along when we went to the Grand Canyon, and it was used twice to recharge the battery because there were no hookups in the North Rim and Zion campgrounds we stayed at. Otherwise, we haven't used it while camping.
So the big question you have to ask is whether you plan to boondock enough for long enough periods that you'll need it. If you can spend a day at a hookup site every 3rd or 4th day, you can save the cost of ever needing a generator.
A surge protector, now, is likely going to be most useful when you are at a site with hinky power. I don't happen to own one, but others swear by them. I DO carry along a voltmeter, and before hooking up, I check the power both to make sure it is wired correctly and that it isn't making wild voltage swings. So far I've never had a problem that way, but others swear by them.
